Folding leg hinge and latch structure



`Fune 10, i958 R. c. EMMERLI FOLDING LEG HINGE AND LATCH STRUCTURE Filfed Sept. 2l, 1956 mr H.. M N mi: E m V T 1./ Q...l ERAN@ .m l. 2 Q

ROLAND C. EMMERT FIGZ.

FOLDING LEG HINGE AND LATCH STRUCTURE Roland C. Emmert, St. Louis, Mo.

Application September 21, 1956, Serial No. 611,234

3 Claims. Y (Cl. 311-99) This invention relates to improvements in a folding leg hinge and latch structure.

It is a major objective of the present improvements to provide a folding leg .structure embodying a hinge and stop assembly that automatically locks the leg in place whensuch leg is moved to the operative extended, furniture-supporting position.

An important object is realized by the mechanical construction -of the foldable leg structure in that it is durable, easy to assemble and install, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another important objective is achieved by the improved hinge and stop assembly that permits the leg to be rigidly locked automatically in the extended position, and permits such leg to be easily unlocked automatically and moved to a folded position, the structural arrangement aording complete one-hand operation.

Still another important object is realized in the arrangement of the hinge connection of the leg with the supporting bracket structure, the hinge pin of such leg being movable in a slot to enable relative movement of the leg and bracket structure to permit engagement of the leg end with a stop member when the legis disposed `in an extended position, the stop member retaining the extended leg securely and rigidly in place and preventing pivotal movement of such leg. Other advantages are realized in that the hinge pin is relatively movable inthe slot to enable selectively, movement Yof the leg into and out of operative engagement with the stop member.

Still another important object is realized by the provision of a lresilient locking means carried on the bracket structure and adapted-operatively to engage the leg when the leg is disposed in the extended position, the locking means preventing any unwanted or unintentionalv disengagement of the stop member-from the leg structure.

The foregoing and numerous other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferredrembodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the hinge ,andvstop assembly for a furniture leg, showing the assembly attached to a table top section, the dotted lines indicating the folded position of such leg;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the opposite side of the hinge and stop assembly shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the hinge and stop assembly as seen from the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in cross section, as seen in a plane taken medially through the bracket structure, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the leg in an extended position.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it will be apparent that the leg assembly is illustrated as being attached to an article of furniture such as a table top or chair seat referred to generally at 10. Of course,

Patented June 10, 1958 ICC the leg assembly may be conveniently attached to any `furniture piece requiring legs, but is preferably constructed and designed for connection to a table top such that the legs may be folded or extended selectively incident to storage or operative use of such table.

TheV leg structure includes an improved hinge and stop assembly that enables the leg to be moved selectively to either a folded or extended position, and enables'the leg to be automatically locked in the extended position and readily unlocked by only one-hand manipulation. The hinge and stop assemblyincludes a base plate 11 adapted to be attached to the table section 10 by connecting elements 12.

The bracket structure of the hinge and stop assembly consists of a pair of spaced, parallel bracketA plates 13 and 14 connected by an integral, transverse member 15 bridging the rear side of plates 13-14 at their lowermost ends. Lateral` flanges 16 are provided at'the upper end of each bracket plate 13-14, the lateral flanges 16 being secured as by screws to base plate 11. Transverse member 15 is provided with an arcuate recess 17 more Y clearly shown in Fig. 3, adapted to engage and receive the end of tubular leg 18, and hence assist in determining the folded position of leg 18.

Formed lin bracket plates 13 and 14 are elongate, vertical slots 20 arranged in horizontal alignment. A hinge pin 21 is Vtixed to the upper endl of leg 18 and is located in each of slots 20. Retaining washers 22 are attached to the ends of hinge pin 21 and engage the outer surfaces of bracket plates 13 and 14 to prevent unintentional withdrawal of pin 21. It is seen that hinge pin 21 connects leg 18 between bracket plates 13 and 14, the spacing between` plates 13-14 closely approximating the outer diameter of tubular leg 18. This hinge connection enables leg 18 to be moved selectively about the axis of Vhinge pin 21'to a folded position shown in dotted lines in Figs. l2, or to the extended position shownby full lines. The dotted line showing of hinge Vpin 21 and washer 22 in Figs.` 1 'andl merely indicate the limit of' position.l For reasons which will later more clearly appear, the stopvmember 23 is of a'size to intert closely thev end of tubular leg 18, andvserves to lock legr18 rigidlyV in the extended position.

AnY auxiliary locking means is provided between the bracket structure and tubular leg 18 to prevent any unintentional or unwanted movement of leg 18 from its rigidly v locked position shown in Figs. 3-4. This auxiliary lock-A ing means includes a resilient leaf spring 25 fixed at one end 2'6 to bracket plate 14. The opposite free end of spring 25 engages a ball element 27 and tends to urge the ball element 27 through an aperture formed in bracket plate 14 and into Yengagement with the upper end of leg 18. When tubular leg 18 is disposed in its fully locked position shown in Figs. 3-4, the ball element 27 is urged under spring loading into a small recess 28 formed in leg 18. The engagement of ball element 27 in recess 28 prevents leg 18 from moving axially relative to bracket plates 13-14 under gravitational effects of its own weight, and hence prevents unwanted or unintentional disengagement of leg 18 from stop member 23.

It is thought that the theory of operation and functional advantages have become fully apparent from the foregoing detaled description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, assume that the initial at-rest position of tubular leg 18 is folded as is shown in'- dotted lines in Figs. l-2. In this position, the hinge pin 21 occupies an uppermost position in slots 20. As the leg 18 is hingedly moved to the extended position, the upper end of leg 18 engages shoulder 17 and hinge pin 21 is moved downwardly` inA slots` 20` as is indicated in Fig. 5. When theleg- 18 is moved to the vertical extended position, hinge pin 21 is located in the lowermost position in slots 20 as indicated in. Fig. 6i Then, leg 18- is moved vertically upwardly to` the position shown in Figs. 3-4 in whichl the stop member 23 closely interfits` the hollow upper end of leg 18. The slidable movement of hinge pin 21 in'slots 20 permits such vertical, translatory leg movement.` Stop member 23 effectively engages leg 18 to prevent any pivotal movement, and hence'serves to prevent collapse of the leg during use.

The ball* element 27 is urgedinto recess 28 by leaf spring 25 whenleg 18 is disposed in its extended, latched position as shown in Figs. 3 and' 4; This, locking means prevents the weight of the leg from causing unwanted disengagement of leg 18 from stop element 23 when the table or other item of furniture is lifted off of the supporting surface or floor. Thus it is seen thatV the hinge-and stop assembly effectively locks leg 18 in the extended position.

To move leg` 1S from the extended position to the folded position, the leg 18 is gripped and moved axially away from stop member 23, the hinge pin 21 moving to its lowerrnost position in slots 20. In this position as is shown in Fig. 6, the upper end of leg 18 is effectively disengaged from stop member 23. Then, the leg 18 is pivotally moved as is illustrated in Fig. 5 about Vthe axis of hinge pin 21. During this pivotal movement, the end of leg 18 engages shoulder 17 and the hinge pin 21 is caused to move upwardly in slots 20 to the uppermost position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 2. When pivotally moved to the fully folded position, the leg 18 is located substantially horizontally as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1-2.

It will be apparent that the hinge and stop assembly enables the leg to be manipulated readily by one-hand operation to either a folded or extended, locked position. The only element of this assembly that requires manipulation is leg 18.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather thanin any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

l. A folding leg hinge and latch structure comprising a bracket, alleg located adjacent-said bracket, the bracket being provided with an elongate slot; aligned with the longitudinal axis of said leg when in an extended position, a hinge pin carried by said legand received in said slot, the leg having a tubular end, a stop member normally interttingj the tubular legend when the leg is disposed in an extended locked position torprevent pivotal movement of said leg, the hinge pin being movable to another position in said slot so that said stop member operatively disengages the tubular legend. to permit pivotal movement of said leg from the extended position to the folded position, the bracket including a shoulder disposed at one side of the slot transversely in the path of the leg and engaging' the legend to move the hinge pin along said slot upon folding and extending said leg.

2. A folding leg hinge and latch structure comprising n bracket, a leg located adjacent said bracket, the bracket being provided with a slot, a hinge pin carried by said leg and received in said slot, said leg being movable to a folded position and to` an extended position, the slot being alignedv with the longitudinal axis of said leg when an extended position, the leg having a tubular end, a st ,n member on said bracket closely intertting the tubular ieg end, the hinge pin being movable along said slot to enablerelative movement of the leg to said bracket when the leg is disposed in an extended position so as to engage and disengage operatively the leg end with the stop member, aid stop member engaging the leg end to prevent pivotal movement of the leg from the extended position, a resiliently mounted` lock element carried` by said bracket and engaging the leg end when the leg is disposed in the extended position in which stop member interlits the. leg end, said resilient lock element preventing unintended disengagement of the stop member and leg end, the bracket including a shoulder disposed at one side of the slot and disposed transversely in the path of the leg so as to engage the leg end upon pivotal movement of said .leg to a. folded position after operative disengagement of the stop member from the tubular leg end, the bracket shoulder causing movement of the hinge pin along said slot.

3. A folding leg hinge and latch structure comprising a bracket, a leg located adjacent said bracket, the bracket being provided with an elongate slot aligned with the longitudinal axis of said leg when in an extended positien, a hinge pin carried by said leg and received in said slot, a stop member engaging one end of said leg when the leg is disposed in an extended locked position to prevent pivotal movement of said leg, the hinge pin being movable to another position in said slot so that the stop member operatively diseugages the leg to permit pivotal movement of said leg from the extended position to the folded position, the bracket includingV a shoulder disposed at one side of the slot transversely in the path of the leg Y and engaging the leg end to move the hinge pin along said` slot upon folding and extending said leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,644 Bales et al. May 3l, 1932 1,905,219 Crichton Apr. 25, 1933 2,047,389 Sinclair July 14, 1936 2,309,180 Filonowicz Jan. 26, 1943 2,444,632 Chick July 6, 1948 2,625,454 Brown Jan. 13, 1953 2,683,069 Kimmel July 6, 1954 2,690,369 Laskey et al. Sept. 28, 1954 2,719,068 Adler Sept. 27, 1955 2,736,626 Inpyn Feb. 28, 1956 

